


j??^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



DDD171D31SS • 



P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 



BUEEA"D OF EDUCATION". 






VACATION COLONIES 



FOR 



SICKLY SCHOOL CHILDREN. 



Departmext of. the Ixtekior, 

Bureau of EducatiOx, 

Washington, August!, 1880. 
The subject of recreative trips for the children of the city poor ha.s received much 
public attention for several years, and has been noted in the annual reports of this 
Office. The report for 1872 also contained a short but very suggestive and valuable 
paper by that distinguished and benevolent physician, J. M. Toner, M. D., of Wash- 
ington, D. C, respecting free camxiing grounds or parks, Avhere poor children and their 
parents might be lodged during the vrarm weather. 

This idea has been carried out in a somewhat different shajie during the last few 
years in Switzerland and Germany, as will be seen from the annexed translation of 
Minister von Puttkamer's order of May 20, ISSO, and the accomiianying report on 
vacation colonies, condensed from the Centralblatt fiir die gesammte Untenlchts- 
Verwaltung in Preussen for June and Julv, 1880. 

JOHN EATON, 

Commissiotier. 



WASHIXGTOX: 

aOVEBNMENT PRINTINa OFFICE. 

1880. 



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VACATION COLONIES FOR SICKLY PUPILS. 



Berlin-, May 26, 1880. 

The vacation colonies for poor and delicate pnpil.s established within the last few 
years by difterent larger cities have proved so beueticial, both as regards the physical 
inix»rovement of the children and the educational influence exerted, that a further de- 
velopment of them is urgently desired. This, however, can not be accomplished by 
the school administration in an official way, since there are no funds at its disposal for 
the purpose ; a siiccessful development can only be expected from the initiative of pri- 
vate associations. But these associations cannot succeed in all cases without the aid 
of the royal departmental government, especially in cases where the cooperation of 
teachers is needed in selecting and accompanying the pupils. In many cases the ad- 
vice and assistance of technical members of the departmental government may be 
desirable. 

I forward herewith five cojnesof a repoi't which, besides other details, gives especial 
information concerning the tinancial side of the question, and I direct the depart- 
mental government to further every movement that may be inaugurated in favor of 
the vacation colonies. 

The minister of worship and public instruction. 

Vox PUTTKAMER. 

To the Departmental and Provincial Governments of the Kingdom. 



VACATION COLONIES. 

The first step towards the establishment of vacation colonies for poor sickly pupils 
was made by Pastor Bion, who, after having been transferred from Trogen, Canton 
Appenzell, to Ziirich, was struck by the languid and sickly looks of many pupils. He 
at once decided to give them relief. After having collected the necessary means, he 
was enabled, in July, 1870, to send 34 boys and 30 girls, in charge of 5 male and several 
female teachers, and in the following year 39 boys and 55 girls, in charge of 5 male 
and 8 female teachers, for 14 days, into the country in the vicinity of Trogen. 

Reports as to the success of these colonies led the sanitary councillor. Dr. Varren- 
trapp, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, to visit tliem. The impression which the colonies 
made on him induced him to imitate them at home ; and so, in the year 1878, a com- 
mittee was organized for this purpose at Frankfort. Of the 173 boys who applied to 
be admitted, the committee, aided by two jdiysicians, selected the 97 who appeared to 
be the weakest. Of these 97 children, "93 were between the ages of 9 and 14 years, 
two were 8 years old, one 15, and one 17. They were divided into 8 groniis, each of 
Avhich was placed in charge of a teacher. The children left the city July 2, and re- 
turned July 25. The total expenses amounted to 5,373 marks 30 pfennige (1 mark = 
23 8 cents), or 55 marks 39 pfennige for each child (or $13.18). 

The childi-en were all greatly* improved in health on their return. 

lu 1879, 241 boys and 164 girls applied for admission. Of these numbers, 85 boys 
and 48 girls were sent into the country, where they remained 25 days. The expenses 
amounted to 7,478 marks 50 pfennige, or 56 marks 30 i^fennige, ($13.40) for every child. 

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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VACATION COLONIES FOR SICKLY 



The city of Dresden also organized a committee last yeai 
thousand four hundred marks were collected, and 36 boys ai 0^001 710 315 5 
the country. The results were excellent. <' 

At Stuttgart, vacation colonies were organized by a committee under Dr. Albert" 
Sigl. In 1879, .55 children were sent into the country from July 18 to August 11. The 
amount of money collected for this purpose was 3,720 marks. 

Finally, the city of Vienna must be mentioned. In 1'579, 20 boys were sent to a 
counti'y x)lace at Weissenbach. 

This year (1880) the city of Berlin is going to join the movement. The local com- 
mittee has for president the minister of state, Dr. Falk. 



